| From Unity, 16 January 2010 |
EditorialA fools’ paradiseWhile people’s attention is still drawn to the political problems here resulting from the Robinson situation, manufacturing has suffered its first casualty of 2010.Arnold Belting in Derry is likely to close, with the loss of 115 jobs. In 2005 the company had 240 workers on its books, falling to 170 a year ago, so the writing seems to have been on the wall. Brian Gray from Northern Ireland Manufacturing was quoted in the Belfast Telegraph as saying that the situation at this company only confirms that there is more pain to come. He makes the point that many of their members felt that the promised recovery is not arriving and that there was a feeling that there will be significantly more job losses in the first half of 2010. He also stated that his organisation is hoping to meet local politicians to discuss what active steps could be taken to support manufacturing jobs. What those “active steps” would be wasn’t stated. The Sinn Féin MLA Marian Anderson has claimed that she raised the situation at the company with the Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, last year and was given the assurance that she would intervene “when appropriate.” Anderson was quoted as saying that the time “has clearly come” for that intervention to take place, but only in ensuring that the appropriate government departments and agencies work to assist the work force at Arnold in securing alternative employment or re-training. The question arises as to what alternative employment is available and what would re-training comprise, and what for. This is on top of a forecast by Richard Ramsay of Ulster Bank that unemployment will increase by another 7,500. His forecast is backed up by other economists, who also predict that the economy will grow but only by the massive figure of 1 per cent. How this is supposed to absorb the more than 60,000 unemployed is not explained. Business Telegraph opinion on Monday pointed out that, as Finance Minster, Sammy Wilson is to announce cuts in the public sector. The future of Northern Ireland lies in the private sector; but he added the rider, “we need an economy that is based on self-help rather than state help.” So there you have it. The system that creates the problem is given the task of solving it. A fools’ paradise or what! |
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